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Is Zoom the Best Platform for Virtual Events? A Look at 8 Options

By Bryon Scott | January 26, 2021 |

With many conferencing platforms available, which is best for your upcoming virtual program?

Here at Goofy Faces, we know a lot about Zoom parties. Even before COVID our caricature artists were frequently drawing live, digital caricatures we call eSketches™ for virtual events on Zoom.

Zoom screenshare digital caricature drawing for virtual events

A caricature artist brings the fun to your virtual events!

Zoom is no longer the only game in town! Today there are many options to gather with family, friends and colleagues and customers online.  Since last March, our artists have been the featured entertainment at more than 100 virtual events! From birthday parties and grad parties to baby showers or retirement gatherings to employee appreciation events, virtual trade shows and team building events, we now have experience with many of the virtual meeting platforms available.

Online Programs Connect Us

Here’s a brief overview of some of the more popular video conferencing programs commonly used for virtual events, and when to incorporate fun, engaging caricature art into your events and celebrations! (more…)

Top 10 Tips for Zoom Party Success!

By Robert Bauer | June 9, 2020 |

Many of us, well, many of you, may not have even heard of Zoom before March 2020. It’s a wonderful platform for sure – if you know how to do a Zoom party well!

Some of our Goofy Faces artists are Zoom Party experts and have been using it to draw remote digital caricatures, or eSketches™, for a while. Along the way, we have learned how to make your Zoom events, birthday parties, work meetings, etc., flow more smoothly with fewer hiccups and so everyone has a good time!

General Zoom Tips – aka Zoom Etiquette

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How to Hire a Caricature Artist for Your Party

By Robert Bauer | January 23, 2020 |

4 tips to help you get the right artist for your entertainment.

If you’re planning a party, or you’ve been asked to help with the entertainment for an event, and you want something people will remember, hire a caricature artist or face painter. Your guests will definitely be entertained, and they get to take home treasured memories in the form of a unique piece of art of or on their face!

Here are some tips to help you make the best choice. (more…)

Four Tips For Hiring a Caricature Artist or Face Painter for Your Holiday Party

By Robert Bauer | November 17, 2019 |

Make the Most of Hiring a Caricature Artist or Face Painter for Your Holiday Party

Fun!”  “Entertaining!”  “Such a great time!”  That’s what your guests will say about your fabulous and memorable company holiday party when you hire the perfect entertainment.

Smart party planners get the most bang for their buck. Hire a caricature artist for your holiday party and you get entertainment and keepsakes all in one! How do you make sure your guests have a great experience? We asked our team of talented, fun and friendly caricature and face painting artists to answer some questions our clients have about holiday party bookings. (more…)

Fun Facts about (Drink) Coasters!

By Robert Bauer | September 20, 2019 |

What do you think about when someone says “coaster?” The ever-present drink coaster as we know them today has been around nearly 140 years!

A Brief History

In 1880 Friedrich Horn, a German printing company, designed the first cardboard beer mats, as they are sometimes called. Shortly after, the Robert Sputh Company of Dresden started making them out of wood pulp.

Today you can find drink coasters protecting tables and bars from condensation in nearly every bar, restaurant and home. They come in many materials, including wood, cardboard, bamboo, cork, marble, sandstone, slate and unglazed ceramics. The best drink coasters are porous and absorb condensation from the glass.

Caricaturist - Goofy Faces Caricature CoastersBut the very best coasters are by Goofy Faces Caricature Artists!

How did It Start? 

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A Family Caricature Makes Memories Last

By Robert Bauer | August 25, 2019 |

Make Memories Last Longer with a Custom Caricature

The good and the bad of having a camera that fits in the palm of your hand

If you’re of a certain age, you remember taking pictures on a camera – with film. Back in those dark ages, you waited, several days even, to see if the pictures were any good!

That Was Then

Remember how exciting it was to open that envelope and see if maybe, just maybe, there was one good family picture? Then you proudly showed it to everyone and displayed it in a photo album or frame. Every time you walk by it you fondly remember that special moment!

This is Now

Today we have some of the most sophisticated photographic tools in the palms of our hands, our smart phones. But when was the last time you printed a family picture from your phone and put it in a frame? Most people don’t.

A family caricature is fun and makes memories last longer.

Goofy Faces will be at the Paint Creek Center for the Arts Art & Apples Festival(r) September 6-8, 2019.

When you take hundreds of pictures at time, it can be overwhelming to choose just one.  Oftentimes the images live on our phones and in our social media feeds, but they rarely make it to a coveted place on the wall for all the family to enjoy.

Make it Memorable

When you and your loved ones sit down for a custom, family caricature, you get a one-of-a-kind piece of art, featuring you! It’s more than a photo, it’s hand-drawn memory you will treasure forever. As summer winds down and kids head back to school, there’s still time to make memories and get a custom keepsake caricature you’ll treasure for years to come.

Enjoy an outing to your local zoo or aquarium. Most retail stands are open daily through Labor Day weekend, then weekends only through Halloween. Click here to see if we’re at a location near you!

Or check out local events like the upcoming Art & Apples Festival® in Rochester, MI, sponsored by Paint Creek Center for the Arts. While there, get your face painted or family caricature drawn by one of our artists so you can capture the moment and remember this special time.

Face Painting Facts

By Robert Bauer | July 24, 2019 |

The Facts About Face Painting

 

Face painting only became popular at children’s parties, theme parks and events in the 1980s, though for centuries, human beings have painted their faces and their bodies.

During tribal ceremonies, military actions, sports activities and religious rituals, putting paint or ink on our bodies has been a part of the human experience for as long as history has been recorded. Even permanent tattooing, while long stigmatized as rebellious or undesirable, is increasing in popularity.

Today, face painting is soaring in popularity. It’s a great way to raise the bar on the entertainment value of any party or corporate event. Kids and adults both love the long-lasting sense of fantasy it creates. They also love that it’s non-toxic and easy to remove. So what is there to know about face painting?

 

A lot! Here are some basics:

Face Painting

Who does face painting?

The face painters that you can hire through Goofy Faces are artists first, face painters second. Many make their living with their art and travel the country working at events. We recruit and vet each artist to make sure that they have both a strong talent and solid customer service skills because we want your guests to have the best possible experience.

 

How is a face painter trained?

Most face painters have attended multiple workshops and seminars to learn their craft. Face painters are required to create realistic-looking scales, horns, fur, feathers, butterfly wings and more textures and designs. These techniques take hours of practice to master. We also train our artists on popular designs and characters.

 

Face Painting

What kind of products do face painters use?

Goofy Faces artists use high-grade professional body paints and glitters, in vibrant colors that don’t fade. These cosmetic-grade, non-toxic products are not permanent or even semi-permanent, so they’re relatively early to remove. Our artists also follow standard sanitation practices, cleaning brushes, stencils and other materials with industrial-strength disinfectant products.

 

 

Face Painting

It’s a bad idea to cheap out on your face painting artist.

A true face painting artist can add something really special to a party. Whether they’re painting crowns on princes and princesses, turning little boys into lizards or livening up an adult party, most people love the experience. It’s Instagram-ready, too.

Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, you can end up with an inexperienced artist whose work may disappoint your guests. You can avoid that by reviewing the artist’s portfolio of images, to make sure their artwork meets your standards. (Or just hire one through Goofy Faces – our artists are all good!)

 

 

Considering a face painter for your next party or corporate event? Start your search here: https://cobs.goofyfaces.com/caricature_new/

Drawing in the Motor City

By Robert Bauer | July 17, 2019 |

We Love to Draw in the D!

We’ve had a whirlwind few weeks of drawing in the Motor City this summer so we thought we’d share all of the exciting events we’ve been a part of so far this season.

 

Bark in the Park

Bark in the Park

The Detroit Tigers held another Bark in the Park on June 25th at Comerica Park during a Tigers’ home game. Once again, Goofy Faces was hired to draw FREE caricatures of pets with their owners. This event was sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus and it was a howling success!

 

Hockeytown Draft Party

The Detroit Red Wings brought in Goofy Faces to light up their draft day party with both event caricature art and face painting. Hockey fans were thrilled by both the draft and the art!

 

Yelp! Party

Goofy Faces had an artist on-site drawing live eSketches™ for a huge party sponsored by Yelp! at the Boathouse on Belle Isle. The “Nauti by Nature” event was a benefit to support the Boathouse renovation fund.

 

Nauti by Nature on Belle Isle

Freedom Boat Club Summer Kick-Off

The Freedom Boat Club is nationwide organization that allows its members access to boats from coast to coast, without boat ownership or maintenance! They held a Summer Kick-Off event at Sindbad’s in Detroit and we were there drawing caricatures for guests.  WLLZ’s own Doug Podell broadcast live during the party.

 

The Detroit Fireworks

Once again, UAW-Ford brought in a couple of Goofy Faces artists to draw & entertain school groups and guests during the Ford Fireworks Festival at the UAW Program Center in downtown Detroit

 

Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau

The DMCVB booked 2 Goofy Faces artists to draw caricatures of guests from the Society of Government Meeting Professionals while they attended a party taking place at The Fillmore. Guests from across the country got to experience the best that Detroit and Goofy Faces has to offer.

 

Detroit Tigers Comerica Park

UAW-Ford Safe Overnight Summer Camp

UAW-Ford hosted a Safe Summer Camp experience at Riverside Marina over the 4th of July weekend with fun and educational outdoor activities. Goofy Faces was hired to provide 2 caricature artists to entertain happy campers with their kids.

 

Goofy Faces books events nationwide and is proud to provide art & entertainment in our home town of Detroit, MI.

Consider adding event caricature art and/or face painting to create a more memorable experience at your next private party or corporate event. Learn more: https://goofyfaces.com/events/

Hiring an Event Caricature Artist

By Robert Bauer | July 9, 2019 |

Hiring an Event Caricature Artist Through Goofy Faces

 

Hiring an Event Caricature Artist

If you’ve never hired an Event Caricature Artist for a party or event, you may not know exactly how to go about it. Here, we’re answering the typical questions we get from customers who hire our artists for bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, kid’s birthday parties, corporate events and more.

 

What kinds of caricature art can I choose from?

At Goofy Faces, we have several offerings for event caricature. For a more traditional approach, consider having a few artists draw black & white or color caricatures on card stock. For something unique, consider Caricature Coasters. They are smaller and quicker black & white drawings on 4” x 4” thick cardboard coasters. Or, go high-tech and hire an eSketch™  artist, who will work on a digital tablet with a large color monitor where guests can watch the work come to life. Full color prints are provided for each guest!

 

Can I get an event caricature artist in any city in the U.S. through Goofy Faces?

We have artists in most major markets throughout the United States. So if your party is in Miami or Memphis, Detroit or Dallas, we probably have someone nearby. Simply plug in your zip code on our Book an Artist  page to find an artist near you.

 

How many event caricature artists should I hire for my party?

That depends on how many guests you will have at your event and how long it will last. You can count on about 60% of guests wanting to have their caricature drawn. Our artists average between 10 and 15 B&W drawings per hour (one person per drawing), or 5 to 7 color drawings per hour.

Here’s an example for a wedding reception:

 

Hiring an Event Caricature Artist

To do some quick math, if you have 200 guests, 60% of them are getting drawn and the event lasts for 3 hours.


200 guests x 60% = 120 black and white drawings

120 drawings / 10 drawings per hour = 12 hours

12 hours / 3 hours = 4 artists


In this case, we would recommend you hire 4 artists to ensure there is plenty of time to cover the guests who would like a souvenir drawing from your party.

 

Hiring an Event Caricature Artist

How do I hire event caricature art?

This part is super easy. Once you’ve found the artist you’d like to work with on our Book an Artist page, you’ll click on their profile listing to see more details about them, and click the “I’m Interested in Booking an Artist” button. Then you’ll be able to fill out a form to check their availability and get the process started.

 

Of course, you can always call us at 866-886-6640 during our business hours – 9AM to 5PM EST, Monday through Friday, and we’ll answer any questions you have and help you book your event caricature artist.

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